OCSC Sailing Week

Special thanks to the OCSC school for giving us an incredible amount of tools and information to take with us as we head back to Juneau (sans trucks)! My dad joined me in the basic keelboat 1 and 2 course for the week---getting literally thrown into a small J24 and having to become a sailor instantly. I was able to come into the class and perfect all my sailing maneuvers, including learning a new man-over-board maneuver ("figure-8") that both Clif and I now know and can practice in our Cal when we get home. I also was able to gain some more knot knowledge, sail shaping practice and experience being in a steady 25 degree heel in big wind and big chop while staying in control (although, definitely didn't stay dry).

Clif took the Bareboat Cruising class and worked hard all week on close-quarter marina maneuvers in Catalina 32's and 36's. We both were certified at our appropriate levels and received u.s. sailing certification!

I loved having Dad with me on the boat all week. He is now ready to spend some time on Sound Discovery as our gourmet galley chef (in a warmer climate)! We also made a bunch of great contacts that all want to keep on touch and spend time on the boat.

Enjoy these OCSC photos from this week. You'll also notice in the photos a big highlight from sailing on the Bay: Americas Cup races!! We got to see the AC 72's out and about while sailing this week!

Road Trip, OCSC Sail Class and Send-off

Clif and I have a little over a week before we commence driving his truck from Skagway down to Berkeley Marina for our OCSC Sailing class. We will take off with all of Clif's toys in tow, August 10th, stop over in Canada a couple times, Hood River and Bend before making our way to California.

We will be back in town on August 26th and we will have a little champagne boat toast part on Friday, August 30th! I set up a facebook event with more info: http://www.facebook.com/events/151658831696887/

Here's some cutie pics our friend AJ took on our Haines excursion over Memorial Day....

Taku Harbor for Solstice

June 22-23, 2013

Clif and I did a little jaunt down to Taku Harbor this past solstice weekend, sailing down and motoring back up (because of lack of wind). The weather was beautiful, sunny blue skies! We had some nice sailing across Taku Inlet, and were followed by huge pods of porpoises for several hours of the trip. We ate a green curry dinner, accompanied by personal peach/blueberry cobblers later that night in the harbor. I used our two fiesta chili-bowls to bake in and they worked perfectly in our tiny oven.

We tied up to the recreational dock that is in Taku Harbor and spent the evening exploring the shore (including a jumbo swing that was built behind the new Forest Service cabin). The cabin was built recently and is still in great shape. We couldn't help but think we will be ducking into Taku Harbor this September on our first night headed out of Juneau to Seattle. Hopefully the weather will be just as beautiful (hah... lofty wishes).

Porpoises swimming along the side of Sound Discovery during our dinner al fresco was definitely a highlight--- enjoy the photos!

Porpoises playing under the bow!

Mmmm... green curry.

Taku Harbor view in the AM

Happy skipper.

Night of Sailing in the Unusually Warm Rain

Kelly and Bryan joined us for a night of sailing past the cruise ships in downtown Juneau. It was unusually warm, despite all the clouds and trickles of rain. We got some good wind downtown and had lots I photos taken of us while we passed below the decks of the Golden Princess (one of the larger cruise ships that comes to town). Ended the night with a BBQ in the harbor!

Holy Sunshine!!

The last couple of weeks in Juneau have been sunny bliss. We've hit 80 several times in the past week, sweltering up in these parts. Lots of boat time... More heat than wind, but we still aired out the sails. We also had our mid-June crew meeting Sunday to discuss dates of departure, which are rapidly approaching! It's looking more like late August (after we have an awesome send off party). Check out our sunny day photos....

Memorial Day Excursion to Haines, AK

 May 24-28, 2013

Clif and I brought the boat around Douglas Island last Thursday to Auke Bay Harbor and headed north to Haines, Friday afternoon, with two lovely crew members, Christin and AJ. We spent the night in William Henry Bay, both coming up to Haines and sailing back. Our trip had phenomenal SE Alaska weather, incredible wildlife sightings, a considerable amount of beer/mimosas and we even gained a crew member, Jeff, on the way home. We couldn't have wanted more for a sailing weekend--- except for maybe more sunscreen. Take a look at some of our photos from the trip!

Watching the porpoises from the bow.

It's Definitely Summer!

May has hit Juneau and we have enjoyed some beautiful nights out in the Gastineau channel testing out the sails for the summer. Tonight was just Clif and I. Blue bird sky, slight sunburn, little wind, but an excellent BBQ aboard for dinner. Can't beat dinner out in the channel! Excited for sailing trips to come this weekend and next--- crossing fingers for some beautiful weather.